Well it's been about two months since my last Newsletter and all is well here in Portugal. Someone recently asked me what I find odd about living here. I said "the avocados are refrigerated and the eggs are not. Also watching the men roll cigarettes on a windy street is impressive".
I am about to start Language classes, I've made many new friends both expat and local, and even had a few dates though the language barrier is a bit of a hindrance at times. For the most part I'm able to get by with english, and my limited Portuguese. Sometimes I point and gesture like an epileptic mime, and with some laughing on both sides, we figure it out.
I bought a nice used mountain bike which I've been using for fitness and exploration. I also joined a nice gym which I go to every Mon, Wed, Fri.
I've been to a Jazz concert at Casa de Musica, A contemporary theater play at Rivoli, and I've seen an Orchestra perform at the Coloseu do Porto. I recently did a wine tour with a local and got to go inside the family wine cellar which has owned the operation for generations. I've done a couple of architectural walking tours which I found really interesting. I've even been invited to dinner at the home of a local Portuguese family which was a real honor.
I have a SEF appointment for my actual Residence Permit on June 9th in Lisbon. Renewable every two years. Once that's behind me I plan to explore a bit further from home, but for now Porto and the surrounding area is my own little oyster of discovery.
